Machete dagger



MACHETE DAGGER Fil ed June 26, 1943 Patented Sept 26, 1 944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a special utility dagger which is not only adapted to be used for dagger purposes but may also be used as a machete in cutting clearance in the tall grass and brush in the jungle and also as a machete knife in slash cutting of snakes, animals and human beings, and I use the name machete dagger, as this dagger can be used. in both types of service and also in a parallel relation to a sword.

An object of my invention is to produce a weapon which has a short sword-like blade mounted on a peculiarly shaped handle which provides means whereby the hand of the user will obtain a more firm and secure grip than has ever been heretofore obtained in a weapon of this class insofar as I have been informed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dagger blade on which is mounted a handle which is easily and quickly grasped by the human hand and to be held automatically and securely in form in a direct line with the forearm of the user. This provides a security in holding the blade in any use of such a blade with less strain of the muscles of the fingers and the hand than has heretofore been obtained, it is believed, in any weapon of this class.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dagger weapon which may be quickly and easily grasped and more firmly fixed in the hand than is the case with any sort of dagger or pistol handles heretofore known by me.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dagger blade mounted in the same plane directly as to the flat plane of the handle whereby, regardless of how the weapon has been grasped, it automatically becomes lined up with the wrist and the forearm of the user, so that the dagger becomes, as itwere, an extension of the. arm of the user in a direct line With the forearm; So that whatever way he swings the weapon it moves with the rigidity of the arm of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dagger blade provided with a handle having the meritorious features above indicated together with an adjustable feature in the body of the handle whereby the grip contacts may be adjusted to and from each other to accommodate a longer and a shorter hand as may be found desirable where a wide variation occurs in difierent persons hands as to the length of their palms.

Other objects of the invention will appear later on in this specification.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dagger mount ed in a holster supported by a strap on the body oila person.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outline of the dagger.

Fig. 3 shows the dagger mounted in vertical arrangement as to the edge of the blade as grasped by the hand of the user.

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section showing an adjustment provided for cases wherein there are varying lengths of palms of the users.

Fig. 5 is a section of a modified form which provides a detachable means for fixing the blade of the dagger into the handle. I

Fig. 6 is another modified form, shown in section only, of a means of fastening the blade to the handle.

In the drawing capital B indicates the dagger blade which is provided with a straight sharp edge 2 and a serrated saw-tooth edge 3 on the other side. This blade may be flat with oval edges and a sharp point, as is indicated in Fig. 2, but when desired it may be made as is indicated by B2 in Fig. 4 and having a cross section somewhat on the order of the common sword having a depressed thinner portion 4.

A common practice of manufacture will be that the blade B will be first prepared in due form and shape and then have the handle body 5 molded or pressed thereon. A common method of manufacture will be to make the handle body 5 of a soft metal such as aluminum or a plastic and cast it directly on to the blade B. However when desired, the part of the handle indicated by 5 may be provided with a seat 6, see Fig. 5, wherein the end of the blade B may be seated and then a cap piece 1 fixed by screws 8 will clamp the blade B to the handle portion 5.

Another method of fastening the blade B into the handle is shown by Fig. 6 wherein the end of the blade is indicated by 8, which is clamped into a cavity 9 in the handle portion 5 by means of a screw l0.

The main body of the handle is indicated by H in which there are the finger holes l2, four in number, arranged in desirable form. The holes i2 are shown as being circular in form in Fig. 2. In Fig. 4 the holes are indicated as l3 and are formed in slightly restricted shape M, in order to provide a somewhat clamping effect on the inside of the fingers of the hand when the same is clasped by a user. i

The upper portion of the handle which contacts the rear body of the inside of the hand, being as it were the base of the thumb, is indicated' by l5 in Fig. 2. This will be made when desired having the right distance spread from the finger holes I 2 to the base of the thumb provided, as is shown by Fig. 2, when an average is arrived at for any given class of users, such as in the Army and the Navy and in other units of the armed forces.

When desired the top of the handle may be adjustable as is indicated by HS in Fig. 4, this being a separate piece, having its inside edge I! mounted in a seat l8 in the base portion of the handle, see Fig. 4. An adjusting screw bolt [9 is screwed into the portion 5 of the handle compressing a spring 20 in a suitable socket seat 2| in the portion l6.

, Any suitable holster 22 is provided with a belt portion 23 whereby the dagger may be carried by the user as desired.

The body of the handle being fiat in parallel relation to the flatness of the blade is supported in the holster in position to be easily grasped by the fingers entering the finger holes [2 whereon there is instantly provided the most secure means possible for the dagger to be held firmly for imthe blade allows the blade to be twisted or moved by the rotation of the wrist to accommodate any purpose. It is handy for opening cans or in prying open boxes or packages as may be desirable in any general service.

It is a mighty handy instrument to open shell fish such as clams, oysters, sco1lops and such things.

Not only may the above service be performed, but in cutting up meat where the bony or gristle parts require to be sawed, this dagger becomes a natural saw, as it were, having a more convenient means of being held for sawing purposes than is common with a regular saw of any kind.

A prime use of this dagger is expected to occur when our fighting men are located in ambush and in stealthy approach against the enemy. This happens when the individual is crouched or .in a prostrate position while creeping along under cover, as it were, as much as possible, in ambush, tall grass, brush and frequently in the tropical jungles. The user must be able to grasp his weapon in the dark and without looking or in cramped position, and this weapon is so constructed that the user may extend his hand down with the least exposure of motion and can grasp the weapon without having to look at it. He may need to do this without being able to see which side, as relates to the smooth edge or the serrated edge, he will need to use in any given instance.

I therefore provide on the top portion of the said handle on one of the horns thereof, a milled surface 25, see Fig. 4. Thus as the user will grasp the weapon from its holster he will know by the feel of the milled edge on one of the horns of the top ofthe handle on which side there is located straight double edged pointed blade one edge of which is smooth and sharp and the other edge having saw teeth also with sharp edges, a handle into the base of which the said blade is fixed, said handle having substantially parallel.

surfaces parallel to the surfaces of the said blade and the said handle provided with a series of finger holes arranged in the said handle transversely of its surface and in approximately right angle directions across the width of the blade and in slightly curved arrangement to each other said finger holes spaced equal distances on each side of the body of said blade whereby the dagger may be held in the hands of the user with its blade extending substantially in an outward line approximating a'line straight with the forearm of the user, a top seat on the said handle spaced apart and up from the said finger holes a distance approximating the length of the human hand as relates to the. distance between the closed fingers and the rear portion of the palm of the hand. K

2. In a dagger of the class described, a. straight flat double edged pointed blade, a handle fixed to the base end of the said blade and provided ;with substantially fiat parallel surfaces parallel to the fiat plane of the saidblade, said handle extending transversely across the said blade with substantially equal portions on each side of the edges of the blade, a series of finger holes through the said handle two on each side of the central axis of the plane surface of the said blade, the top 'edge of the said handle spaced upwardly from the said holes for a distance'approximating the inside of the closed fingers to the base of'the thumb portionlof the hand.

3. In a dagger of the class described, a straight fiat double edged pointed blade, a handle fixed to the base end of the said blade and proximating the inside ofthe closed fingers to the base of the thumb portion of the hand, the said handle provided with a base portion fixed to the said blade, a series offingerholes in the said base portion and the said handle provided with an adjustable block portion at the top of r the said base portion and held in adjustable relation thereto by a screw bolt in association with a spring element whereby there is provided an elastic adjustment for the distance between the said finger holes and the top of the said handle, which top is contacted. by the rear portion 0 the palm of the hand.

4. In a dagger of the class described, in straight outline, a serrated saw tooth edge on one edge of said blade, a sharp knife edge on the other edge of the said blade, a substantially flat handle mounted across and in.parallel relation to the fiat surface of the said blade and mounted on one end of the said blade in parallel relation to the fiat surface of the blade and extending transversely across the width of the blade in equal distancesfrom the central line of the said blade, a series of finger holes inthe said handle spaced equi-distantly on each side from the central axis of the said blade, the back portion of the said handle spaced outwardly from the location of the said finger holes and one side of the said top portion provided with a milled surface and this side of the handle located on the side of the serrated edge of the said blade.

5. In a dagger of the class described, a fiat double edged pointed blade, a handle fixed to the body of the said blade in substantially parallel relation to the surface of the fiat body of the blade and extending equal distances on each side of the central line of the said blade as relates to its fiat surface, a series of finger holes in the said handle located on each side in equal distances from the central axis of the said blade and at right angles to the said central axis, the said handle provided with a back portion spaced outwardly from the location of the said finger holes and adapted to be contacted by the rear portion of the palm of the hand of the person using the same.

6. In a dagger of the class described, a straight double edge pointed blade one edge of which is smooth and sharp and the other edge having serrated sharp pointed saw teeth, a handle into which the base of said blade is fixed, said handle having substantially parallel surfaces in line with the surfaces of the said blade and provided with a series of finger holes arranged in the said handle transversely of its surface and in approximately right angle directions across the width of the blade and slightly curved arrangement to each other, said finger holes spaced equally on' each side of the body of the said blade, a back seat on the said handle spaced outwardly from the said finger holes a distance approximating the length of a normal human hand as relates to the distance from the finger holes to the rear portion of the palm of the hand, said rear portion of the said handle having a top and a bottom portion curved upwardly in the form of small projections or horns adapted to contact the edges of the palm of the hand, one of said horns serrated or roughened on the side corresponding to the location of the saw teeth on the said blade.

CHARLES THEODORE ENGLE. 

